Arizona Diamondbacks (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)
March 30, 2023 10:10 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Dodgers -192 / Arizona Diamondbacks +135; Over/Under: 7
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet Thursday in MLB Opening Day action from Dodger Stadium. Arizona managed to go 74-88 last season. The Diamondbacks managed a fourth-place finish in the National League West with that mark. As for the Dodgers, they’re coming off a 111-51 run and an NL West title. LA lost in the Division Series to the Padres, however. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona didn’t make a whole lot of noise in the standings last year. The Diamondbacks were ahead of only Colorado (68-94) in the National League West, and finished a full 13 games behind Philadelphia (87-75) for the final Wild Card spot at season’s end.
For Thursday’s starting pitcher job, the Diamondbacks are sending out Zac Gallen. In 2022 Gallen went 12-4 overall with a 2.54 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 184.0 total innings. Gallen managed a 1-2 record in four starts during the spring, struggling to an 8.27 ERA.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Over on the Dodgers’ side, their 2022 regular season was pretty epic. The team broke a franchise record with 111 victories, which was the most in the MLB since 2001 (Seattle with 116). Unfortunately, LA was upset by San Diego in the Division Series, losing in four games.
As the starter on Thursday, the Dodgers will go with Julio Urias. Last year Urias was 17-7 with a 2.16 ERA. He had 166 strikeouts in 175.0 innings over 31 starts. Urias put up a 1-1 record in Spring Training over three starts with a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 frames.
The Diamondbacks are 4-1 in the last five Thursday games and 6-13 in their last 19 overall. Arizona is 45-100 in their last 145 road games.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are 39-13 in their last 52 Thursday games and 41-15 in their last 56 versus the NL West. LA is 67-26 in their last 93 overall.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with the Dodgers in this one; also probably not going near it. Los Angeles doesn’t quite have the same gargantuan expectations this year as in most of the last decade. The team is projected to be fighting it out with San Diego in the standings, which should make for some entertaining storylines. The Dodgers let go of most of their free agents in the off season and the roster doesn’t look quite as dominant as it used to. All of that said, LA will still be right in the mix for the division title. As for Arizona, they’re a young team with an optimistic future and should continue to improve in 2023. The pitching staff—particularly the bullpen—probably still needs some work, but there seems to be brighter days on the horizon. I don’t think they’ll topple the Dodgers in the opener, though.
